already standing in the lobby, holding a single rose reviving the painful memory of a time long ago when Alejandro had so violently rejected someone else bringing her one. He was dressed up a bit, and Isabella was glad she’d thought ahead and dressed as casually as she could today. This was not a date.
“Hey.” She waved him over to an empty booth.
Last thing she wanted was some long greeting that might end with welcome hug. She even took a seat in the booth to avoid any possible embracing. “I’m so tired,” she said as he reached the booth.
He handed her the rose with a smile. “You look very nice. Can’t believe it’s only been two months since I’ve seen you. Feels so much longer.”
Isabella thanked him as their waiter reached them with two glasses of water. Ironic that he’d comment on how long it felt since they’d last seen each other. For years, it’s what she dwelled on daily—how it felt like an eternity since she’d last seen Alejandro. She thought about mentioning it but then thought better of it. Cido might take it as her comparing their relationships to hers and Alejandro’s when they were worlds apart.
Instead, she focused on the menu she already had memorized. Thankfully, Cido asked her to order for him since he didn’t know much about Italian cuisine. She quickly ordered what she knew would be out fastest and got right into her casual spiel about how quickly life changes, how different her life was now from just a few months ago, citing all the things that had changed since: her new job, apartment, her driving now, how much weight she’d lost. Which technically started just after the festival when she’d all but lost her appetite for weeks and she’d yet to fully recover. But she kept that part to herself.
Pausing her little spiel to take a sip of water before adding the clincher, she dabbed her mouth with her napkin and cleared her throat. “I’m even seeing someone now.” She shook her head, pretending not to notice the smile on his face going flat. “I tell you it’s crazy how life changes so quick—”
“You’re seeing someone?”
She’d seen this hardened expression on his face before, usually when someone flirted with her in front of him or when she happened to make a whimsical comment about Alejandro. But she continued to pretend not to notice. The waiter dropping the bread and butter off at their table was perfect timing. It gave her something else to focus on instead of Cido’s reaction to her comment.
“The bread’s really good here,” she said, reaching for a piece and buttering it.
“Isa, you’re seeing someone? What the fuck does that mean?”
With a lift of a brow, Isa peered at him. “That I’ve been dating some—”
“I know what the phrase means, Isabella. What I’m asking is what the fuck am I doing here then?”
Feigning surprise, Isabella shook her head. “Having a meal with a friend as we’ve done many times before. What’s wrong with you?”
“You’re seriously gonna sit there and act like you don’t know what’s wrong with me?”
“Yes, because I’ve never considered our relationship anything more than a friendship. I’m sorry if I ever—” She flinched when he stood suddenly and threw his napkin on table.
“Jodido pérdida de tiempo . . .” He continued muttering more as he stalked away, but it’s all she caught.
Isabella considered calling out or even going after him. Instead, she sat there frozen, wondering if it were really going to be that easy to be done with him. As bad as she felt, she really hadn’t said or done anything wrong. She owed him her gratitude for all he’d done for her but nothing more. Except for the times he’d gotten territorial and she’d let it go because it felt too awkward to say anything, she’d never done anything to suggest there was anything more than a friendship between them. Even he’d referred to her as amiguita on many occasions.
That he’d believe she was actually seeing someone now just went to show how different he and Alejandro were. Alejandro had always immediately picked up on her change in demeanor, even when she tried so hard to hide it. Of all people, Cido had always known what Alejandro meant to her. She’d put her life on hold for years because of her love for Alejandro, and he knew it. She’d been physically ill for weeks after the festival. Weeks! Por el amor de Dios! Did he